Abstract
This is a report about the development of Kendo as introduced to secondary schools in Gloucestershire, South West England. In January 2003, a school Kendo club was set up in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in the first ever attempt in the U. K. to start Kendo in school. In January 2005, Kendo was then adopted as an activity in physical education (PE) curriculum time at a secondary school in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. In the summer of the same year, a new project called ‘Junior Kendo Leaders Award’course started. In this course work, pupils at secondary school made plans and then taught Kendo to primary school pupils. Pupils who successfully completed the course work were given a nationally recognised certificate as a junior sports leader.
This report also examines the initiatives that have supported school Kendo and the possibility of a new way of development of Kendo in the U. K. that school Kendo could bring. Both school Kendo club and Kendo within the PE curriculum and outside organisations such as Sport England made partnerships that have supported the development. Because of the support given, school Kendo not only receives financial help but also gives the opportunity to have Kendo recognised by parents and the public, as well as providing lessons that draw out pupils' motivation and deepen their understanding by providing an award course.
School Kendo in Gloucestershire deals with the issues of providing juniors with an appropriate and safe environment for practice, problems of parents' time restriction and financial burden. These are often seen at general Kendo clubs in the U. K. This work in schools is also given attention as a possible new way of developing Kendo in the U. K. For further development of school Kendo and development of Kendo in the U. K., it is expected that the British Kendo Association will become involved with school Kendo and stronger partnerships between the Association, schools and outside organisations will be sought.
